Australia.TO International Edition - Local and World News(2)
“However in 2008, WA achieved substantial growth in international university student numbers. This turnaround in a long-term pattern of declining market share is encouraging. But it is important that we make the most of this improvement and maximise the opportunities it has created.
“The figures show that, in 2008, WA had about 5,500 Chinese students, including 2,500 in our universities. While this number has increased since 2002, our market share still lags behind other states.”
While in China and Hong Kong, Dr Constable will also be speaking to key tourism officials and representatives of Tourism Australia.
“China is an important tourism market for Western Australia - 12,600 Chinese people visited our State last year, spending $39million,” she said.
“This makes China the 12th top spending international market for WA. While growth is slowing due to the global economic environment, long-term forecasts indicate that Chinese visitor numbers to WA will increase between now and 2017.
“China has been prioritised as one of our ‘Invest for the Future’ markets and accordingly, our approach in 2009-10 will be to build awareness of WA as an exclusive Australian holiday destination for high-end Chinese consumers.”
The Minister will be the guest speaker at a dinner in Shanghai to mark the 10th anniversary of Australia’s Approved Destination Status with China.
Approved Destination Status is a bilateral tourism arrangement between the Chinese Government and a foreign country whereby Chinese tourists are permitted to undertake leisure travel in groups to that destination.
The Approved Destination Status arrangement was first introduced by the Chinese Government in 1995 with Hong Kong and Macau. Since that time, agreements have been reached with 93 destinations around the world.
Australia and New Zealand were the first western countries to be granted Approved Destination Status in 1999.
Dr Constable would be accompanied on the trip by Department of Education Services chief executive officer Richard Strickland and Ministerial media adviser Kent Acott.
The cost of the trip would be shared among the members of the delegation. The cost to the Minister’s office was estimated to be $15,000.
